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Rare Photos Of Marilyn Monroe When She Was Just 20 Years Old

Before she was famous, Marilyn Monroe was known as Norma Jeane Dougherty, and in 1946 she and her lover, photographer André de Dienes, traveled to Malibu beach where the 20-year-old future blonde bombshell posed for this series of photographs. In his own words, the photographer said:

“She was twenty and had never experienced the intoxication of success, yet already there was a shadow over her radiance, in her laughter. I asked her to react instinctively, without giving herself time to think, to the words happiness, surprise, reflection, doubt, peace of mind, sadness, self-torment… and death. When I said ‘death’ she took hold of the folded dark-cloth and covered her head with it. Death to her was blackness, nothingness. I tried to coax another reaction from her. Death might be a beginning, the hope of an everlasting light. She shook her head: ‘That’s what death is for me.’ She turned towards me, her face set and despairing, eyes dulled, her mouth suddenly bereft of colour. To her, death was the end of everything.”

THIS is what a 20 year old should look like. Youthful, little to no make-up, carefree, and full of promise. Not pumped full of plastic surgery, botox, lip fillers, and caked in make up like Kylie Kardashian. I wish we could bring natural beauty back like these pictures.

I read it was at that time already, prior to becoming famous. No big deal, doesn't take from natural beauty, noses get marred by so many things, like accidents, maltreating, etc. so surgery only restores natural form.

So poignantly beautiful. She looks younger than her 20 years in some, and yet marked already, by the great sadness she'd had to endure in her life. One can almost read her intelligence in her poses too...

She was a very intelligent woman who had to hide it for the sake of her sexual appeal. Men normally don't like smart women especially in the 50- 60s. You have to read her interviews to see how smart and wise she was. Don't be fooled by the media image

THIS is what a 20 year old should look like. Youthful, little to no make-up, carefree, and full of promise. Not pumped full of plastic surgery, botox, lip fillers, and caked in make up like Kylie Kardashian. I wish we could bring natural beauty back like these pictures.

I read it was at that time already, prior to becoming famous. No big deal, doesn't take from natural beauty, noses get marred by so many things, like accidents, maltreating, etc. so surgery only restores natural form.

So poignantly beautiful. She looks younger than her 20 years in some, and yet marked already, by the great sadness she'd had to endure in her life. One can almost read her intelligence in her poses too...

She was a very intelligent woman who had to hide it for the sake of her sexual appeal. Men normally don't like smart women especially in the 50- 60s. You have to read her interviews to see how smart and wise she was. Don't be fooled by the media image